//////////////////////////////////////|\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Send whatevers to rjung@netcom.com | If it has pixels, I'm for it.
--------------------------------------+------------------------------Lynx up!
"You weren't chosen because you are the best pilot in the Air Force. You were
chosen because you are the class clown and frankly, you're expendable."
|||
||| ATARI Lynx "Frequently Asked Questions" File! Updated: 2/10/96
/ | \
Created by Darius Vaskelis, who saw the need and filled it.
Maintained by Robert Jung (rjung@netcom.com)
==============================================================================
This file is not maintained by, overseen by, endorsed, or otherwise associated
with Atari Corp. or any of its subsidiaries. It's just a collection of
questions and answers, with a few news tidbits thrown in.
This file is posted on a monthly basis to rec.games.video.atari,
alt.games.lynx, news.answers, and rec.answers around the first of the month.
The latest version of this file is also available via anonymous FTP at
ftp.netcom.com in the /pub/rj/rjung directory. It is maintained by Robert
Jung at rjung@netcom.com on the Internet. Send corrections, news, updates,
comments, questions, or other stuff to that address. All mail is welcome!
Updates since the last publically posted FAQ have a percent sign (%) in the
first column.
==============================================================================
Q. What is the Atari Lynx?
A. The world's first hand-held color video game system. Sold by Atari, the
Lynx offers true multi-player competition, built-in 3D and distortion
graphic effects, reversible controls, and fast arcade action for under
$100.
==============================================================================
Q. What's the relationship between the Atari Lynx and Epyx?
A. The Lynx was originally conceived by Epyx in 1987. It was called the
"Handy" at that time. Two creators of the system, Dave Needle and R.J.
Mical, were also members of the Amiga design team. Atari bought the
rights, and the rest is history.
Due to a recent lawsuit settlement between Epyx and Atari, Epyx no longer
has any connection whatsoever with the Lynx. Atari was required to pay a
lump sum to offset back royalties owed, cover damages from breach of
contract, and an additional amount to buy off Epyx royalty rights.
==============================================================================
Q. What are the specifications of the Lynx?
A. Physical dimensions:
Size: 9.25" x 4.25" x 2" (10.75" x 4.25" x 1.5" for original Lynx)
Screen: 3.5" diagonal (3.25" x 1.88" approx.)
Speaker: 2" diameter
Buttons: Two sets of fire buttons (A and B)
Two option buttons (OPTION 1 and OPTION 2)
Pause button
(OPTION 1 + Pause = Restarts the game
OPTION 2 + Pause = Flips the screen, which allows the Lynx
controls to be reversed)
Power on light (Not on original Lynx; indicates unit is on)
Power on button
Power off button
Backlight button (Not on original Lynx; turns off the screen,
but does not turn off the game. This saves electricity use
when a game is paused)
Joypad: Eight directional
Controls: Volume
Brightness
Ports: Headphones (mini-DIN 3.5mm stereo; wired for mono on the
original Lynx)
ComLynx (multiple unit communications)
Power (9V DC, 1 A)
Game card slot
Battery holder (six AA)
For the technically minded, the Lynx has two basic chips that form a
cooperative set of co-processing subsystems that maximize the Lynx's
performance by sharing the work of executing a game program. These
chips are called Mikey and Suzy.
Mikey (16-bit custom CMOS chip running at 16MHz)
- MOS 65C02 processor running at up to 4MHz (~3.6MHz average)
8-bit CPU, 16-bit address space
- Sound engine
4 channel sound
8-bit DAC for each channel
(4 channels x 8-bits/channel = 32 bits commonly quoted)
Atari reports the range is "100Hz to above the range of human
hearing"; spectrum analysis shows the range may go as low as 32Hz.
Stereo with panning (mono for original Lynx)
- Video DMA driver for LCD display
4096 color (12-bit) palette
16 simultaneous colors (4 bits) from palette at one time
- System timers
- Interrupt controller
- UART (for ComLynx)
- 512 bytes of bootstrap and game-card loading ROM
Suzy (16-bit custom CMOS chip running at 16MHz)
- Blitter (bit-map block transfer) unit
- Graphics engine
Hardware drawing support
Unlimited number of high-speed sprites with collision detection
Hardware high-speed sprite scaling, distortion, and tilting effects
Hardware decoding of compressed sprite data
Hardware clipping and multi-directional scrolling
Variable frame rate (up to 75 frames/second)
160 x 102 "triad" standard resolution (16,320 addressable pixels)
(A triad is three LCD elements: red, green, and blue)
Capability of 480 x 102 artificially high resolution
- Math co-processor
Hardware 16-bit multiply and divide (32-bit answer)
Parallel processing of single multiply or divide instruction
The Lynx contains 64K (half a megabit) of 120ns DRAM. Game-cards
currently hold 128K (1 megabit) or 256K (2 megabits) of ROM, but there
is a capability of up to 1 megabyte (8 megabits) on one game-card. In
theory, this limit can be exceeded with extra bank-switching hardware in
the card. The first few hundred bytes of the game card is encrypted to
prevent unauthorized developers from writing Lynx software. This scheme
was introduced by Epyx as an effort to enforce game quality.
With alkaline batteries, the reasonable average battery life is 5 hours.
(4 hours with the original Lynx) The Lynx can run off rechargeable
Ni-Cad batteries, but average battery life drops drastically to 1.5 hours
per recharge (1 hour for the original Lynx). Your mileage may vary.
==============================================================================
Q. What are the differences between the original Lynx ("Lynx Classic") and
the new Lynx ("Lynx II")?
A. The new Lynx is a bit smaller and lighter than the original Lynx. It has a
slightly longer battery life, and can also just turn the screen off during
a game pause to save batteries. (The original Lynx had a five minute
auto-power shut-off that would have prevented this from being useful. It
is gone in the new Lynx). A power LED has been added (which also blinks
when battery power is low), and cartridges are easier to insert.
The only differences in a technical sense is that the new Lynx has a more
efficient internal design, and the headphone jack supports stereo sound.
The speaker in new Lynx is also not as loud as the original Lynx, although
it's more than adequate for all but the noisiest situations.
Also, the new Lynx can experience what is called "blinking pixel syndrome".
With certain game cards, one pixel on the screen (usually stationary)
cycles through all the colors very quickly. It does not affect game play,
and isn't always noticed unless it's looked for. It seems to be fixed in
later Lynxes, making it even less of a factor.
The power consumption in the new Lynx is about fifteen percent less than
that of the original Lynx. Harry Dodgson (hdodgson@ford.com) shows Classic
using 343 mA, versus 296 mA for the Lynx II. Also, about two-thirds of the
Lynx power use is for the backlight screen alone, as using the Lynx II with
the backlight off used only 97 mA. He concludes, "the 'battery life of
five hours' claim by Atari is realistic."
==============================================================================
Q. Is the Lynx an 8-bit or 16-bit system?
A. If 16-bit refers to the main CPU, (such as the Sega Genesis/MegaDrive) then
the Lynx is an 8-bit system. If 16-bit refers to the graphics engine,
(such as the NEC TurboDuo/PC-Engine) then the Lynx is a 16-bit system.
==============================================================================
Q. Why does the Lynx use a 6502 and not a 68000?
A. "Some people believe it's less of a processor than the 68000, for example.
That series of chip was used in the Amiga, but it wouldn't make our machine
do things any better. In fact, it would only make the unit larger and more
expensive. It's also harder to write 68000 code, so we definitely made the
right decision."
--R.J. Mical
"The real answer for the choice for the 6502 vs. 68000 was price.
Secondary considerations (that did not really enter into the decision
making process): 68000 code is very fat compared to 6502 code. An
application that takes 1K of 6502 code averages 2.5 to 3K of 68000 code.
The 6502 is very bus-efficient, the 68000 has lots of dead time on the
bus. As for it being harder to write 68000 code, that is probably not
true, and in any case was not part of the reason the decision was made."
--Stephen Landrum
Additionally, inside sources at Atari say that one major reason for the
6502 vs 68000 processor choice was that the 6502 design was available as a
component that could be plugged into a custom chip design. This allowed
engineers to build a chip with a 6502 and other supporting hardware around
it all in one package. It is only around 1993-1994 that Motorola offered
the 68000 as a design component.
==============================================================================
Q. What do I get when I buy a Lynx?
A. The Lynx is available in two packages:
The Lynx "Deluxe Package" costs $129.95. It includes the Lynx unit, a copy
of the CALIFORNIA GAMES game card, a carrying case, a ComLynx cable, and
six AA Alkaline batteries.
The Lynx "Base Package" costs $79.95. It comes with only the Lynx, and
includes no accessories.
Some stores and retailers are selling a "maximum" Lynx package at $70. The
package consists of the Lynx "Base Package" (unit and no accessories), and
four games (titles vary by store and region). There is no word on whether
this is a temporary or a permanent offer.
==============================================================================
Q. What are the current Lynx games available?
A. The following is a list of Lynx games currently available in the United
States. The notation "(x)" means to refer to footnote number x. All
multiplayer games use the ComLynx cable unless otherwise indicated:
Title Players Publisher Type
----------------- ------- ------------ ---------------------------
A.P.B. 1 Atari Arcade
Awesome Golf 1-4 Atari Sports
Baseball Heroes 1-2 Atari Sports
Basketbrawl 1-2 Atari Action/Sports
Batman Returns 1 Atari Action/Platform
BattleWheels 1-6 Beyond Games Action/Driving
Battlezone 2000 1-4 Atari Action/Arcade
Block Out 1 Atari Action/Strategy
Blue Lightning 1 Atari Action
Bill & Ted's 1-2 Atari Action/Adventure
Excellent Adventure
Bubble Trouble 1 Telegames Action/Adventure
California Games 1-4(1) Atari Action/Sports
Checkered Flag 1-6 Atari Sports
Chip's Challenge 1 Atari Puzzle
Crystal Mines II 1 Atari Puzzle
Desert Strike 1 Telegames Action/Strategy
Dinolympics 1 Atari Puzzle
Dirty Larry: 1 Atari Action
Renegade Cop
Double Dragon 1-2 Telegames Arcade/Fighting
Dracula the Undead 1 Atari Adventure
Electrocop 1 Atari Action/Adventure
European Soccer 1-2 Telegames Sports
Challenge
Fidelity Ultimate 1-2(2) Telegames Strategy
Chess Challenge
Gates of Zendocon 1 Atari Action/Shooter
Gauntlet: The 1-4 Atari Action/Adventure
Third Encounter
Gordo 106 1 Atari Platform
Hard Drivin' 1 Atari Arcade/Driving
Hockey 1-2 Atari Sports
Hydra 1 Atari Arcade
Ishido: The Way of 1-n Atari Strategy
the Stones (2,3)
Jimmy Connors Tennis 1-4 Atari Sports
Joust 1-2 Shadowsoft Arcade
Klax 1 Atari Arcade/Strategy
Krazy Ace Minature 1-4 Telegames Action
Golf
Kung Food 1 Atari Action/Fighting
Lemmings 1 Atari Strategy
Lynx Casino 1-2 Atari Strategy
Malibu Bikini 1-4 Atari Sports
Volleyball
Ms. Pac-Man 1 Atari Arcade
NFL Football 1-2 Atari Sports
Ninja Gaiden 1 Atari Arcade
Ninja Gaiden III: 1 Atari Action/Platform
The Ancient Ship of Doom
Pac-Land 1-2(2) Atari Arcade
Paperboy 1 Atari Arcade
Pinball Jam 1 Atari Arcade/Action
Pit-Fighter 1-2 Atari Arcade/Fighting
Power Factor 1 Atari Action
Qix 1-2(2) Telegames Arcade
Rampage 1-4 Atari Arcade
Rampart 1-2 Atari Arcade/Strategy
RoadBlasters 1 Atari Arcade/Driving
Robo-Squash 1-2 Atari Action/Sports
Robotron:2084 1 Shadowsoft Arcade
Rygar 1 Atari Arcade
Scrapyard Dog 1 Atari Platform
Shadow of the Beast 1 Atari Action/Strategy
Shanghai 1-2 Atari Strategy
Steel Talons 1 Atari Arcade
S.T.U.N. Runner 1 Atari Arcade
Super Asteroids/ 1 Atari Arcade/Action
Missile Command
Super Off-Road 1-4 Telegames Arcade/Driving
Super Skweek 1-2 Atari Action/Strategy
Switchblade II 1 Atari Platform
T-Tris 1-8 B. Schick Puzzle
Todd's Adventures 1-8 Atari Action/Adventure
in Slime World
Toki 1 Atari Platform
Tournament 1-4 Atari Arcade/Sports
Cyberball 2072
Turbo Sub 1-2(3) Atari Action/Shooter
Viking Child 1 Atari Action/Adventure
Warbirds 1-4 Atari Action/Strategy
World Class Soccer 1-2 Atari Sports
Xenophobe 1-4 Atari Arcade
Xybots 1-2 Atari Arcade
Zarlor Mercenary 1-4 Atari Shooter
Footnotes:
(1) Manual says 1-2 players, 1-4 is possible
(2) Multiple players on one Lynx, alternating turns.
(3) Players can compare scores, but not interact directly
==============================================================================
Q. What are some of the upcoming Lynx games?
A. Upcoming Lynx Games List:
Note: This list is hardly definitive. It's based on many sources, and in
some cases, it just might be dead wrong. Also note that, with the
very low level of Lynx game development currently in progress, most of
the titles listed below may never come to light.
Title Players Publisher Type
----------------- ------- ------------ ---------------------------
Aliens v. Predator 1? Atari Action
Blood & Guts Hockey 1-2 Atari Action/Sports
Cybervirus 1 Beyond Games Action
Daemonsgate 1? Atari Adventure
Defender/Stargate/ 1? Atari Action/Arcade
Defender II
Eye of the Beholder 1 Atari Adventure
Fat Bobby 1? Atari Action/Platform
Full Court Press 1-2 Atari Sports
Basketball
Heavyweight 1-2 Atari Sports
Contender
Mechtiles 1-4 Beyond Games Action/Strategy
Operation Desert 1 Atari Strategy?
Storm
R.C. Destruction 1-4 Telegames Action
Derby
Relief Pitcher 1-2 Atari Arcade/Sports
Raiden 1-2 Atari Arcade/Shooter
Road Riot 4WD 1-2 Atari Arcade/Action/Driving
Spacewar 1-2? Atari? Action
Ultra Star Raiders 1? Atari Action/Strategy
Ultra Vortex 1-2 Beyond Games Fighting
==============================================================================
Q. Where can I get a review and/or comments about ?
Q. Where can I find secrets, tips, and hints for ?
A. Peter Hvezda maintains the Usenet Lynx Guide. It offers the Lynx FAQ,
every Lynx game review written by Robert Jung, and the Lynx cheats list.
Send e-mail to phvezda@pnfi.forestry.ca, with one or more of the following
in the body of the message:
send faq - A copy of the Lynx FAQ (this file)
send reviews - A copy of every Lynx review ever written -- over 200K!
send cheats - Tricks and cheats for many Lynx games
send help - Detailed instructions, including how to get reviews
for individual/specific games
Robert A. Jung (rjung@netcom.com) has reviews for (almost) every Lynx game
and peripheral available. They are available on the Internet via anonymous
ftp from ftp.netcom.com, in the /pub/rj/rjung/reviews/lynx directory.
Nick Paiement runs a database that records ratings for Lynx games. The
ratings are provided by players, and average/high/low results are
calculated by Nick. The ratings and "ballots" are posted regularly to the
USENET newsgroup rec.games.video.atari. Or, send electronic mail to
paiement@info.polymtl.ca with the subject "get_lynx" for full details.
Atari Corp. has established a game tip hotline, at (900) 737-ATARI (2827).
The cost is $0.95 per minute; minors should get their parent's permission.
==============================================================================
Q. Hey! I think I just set a new high score! How can I brag about it?
A. Jim Leonard is maintaining a running list of high scores achieved on Lynx
games. This list is posted to the Internet on a semiregular basis.
If you've got a new high score, send it to trixter@mcs.com on the Internet.
Include all pertinent information, including your name and difficulty
settings used to set that record.
==============================================================================
Q. Where can I meet other Lynx enthusiasts?
A. Bobby Tribble maintains the Internet AtariLink Directory, a database of
Lynx and Jaguar owners and where they live. This allows fans of
multiplayer games to write, to meet, and possibly to get together and
play games. All arrangements are made by the people involved, allowing
individual control of the level of privacy.
To see the listing, and for full information on how to sign up, check out
Bobby's WWW page at http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~btribble/atarilink.html.
For those without access to the web, Bobby can be reached by e-mail on the
Internet at "btribble@ocf.Berkeley.EDU".
==============================================================================
Q. What accessories exist for the Lynx?
A. The following products can be ordered direct from Atari Corp., at (800)
GO-ATARI:
* ComLynx cable. Connects multiple Lynxes together for multiplayer games.
* AC adaptor. Powers the Lynx from any AC wall socket.
* Cigarette lighter adaptor. Powers the Lynx from any automobile cigarette
lighter. Will support one or two Lynxes simultaneously.
* Atari Lynx Sun Shield. Folds down to protect the Lynx screen, and pops
open to shade the Lynx screen from sunlight for outdoor play. (NOTE:
There are two models; you need the one appropriate for your Lynx)
* D-cell battery pack. Holds six D-cell batteries, and can be attached
with a belt clip. Alkaline batteries provides power for up to 20 hours
of playing.
* Atari Lynx carrying pouch. Holds a Lynx, several game cards, and a
ComLynx cable. Attaches with a wrist strap/belt loop.
* Atari Lynx Kit Case. Holds a Lynx, up to 24 game cards, and assorted
accessories. Padded interior with Velcro dividers, can be customized.
Carried with a handle or a shoulder strap.
Naki Products sells several Lynx accessories. Call (800)-626-NAKI to find
a Naki dealer near you:
* Atari Lynx power pack. Mounts on the back of the Lynx II, comes with
an AC adapter which allows recharging while playing. Comes in 110v
(USA), 220v (Europe), or 240v (UK) formats. Cost is $39.95, or
$33.95 for replacement battery packs.
* Eliminator cleaning kit. Cleans game cards and cartridge slots. Comes
with swabs and cleaning solution. Cost is $7.95.
* AC adaptor. Powers the Lynx from any 110v outlet. Cost is $9.99.
* Car Power. Cigarette lighter DC adaptor. Cost is $7.95.
* Pro Pouch+. Holds a Lynx and up to 20 game cartridges. Nylon with
adjustable carrying straps. Comes in Black, purple, or teal blue.
Cost is $14.99 each.
==============================================================================
Q. Is there a TV tuner option for the Lynx?
A. No. Atari's official position is that market research shows that a TV
tuner, while a neat idea, would not be bought by most players. The
unofficial word from Stephen Landrum is that the Lynx screen display is not
capable of handling a broadcast television picture.
==============================================================================
Q. What can I use to carry my Lynx game cards?
A. A cheap and easy solution is the plastic cases used to hold trading cards.
They're transparent, sturdy, and lock shut when closed. Most hobby and
comic book stores will sell them; a large case costs $0.50 to $1.00, and
can hold up to 14 Lynx cards.
Another solution are Lynx card wallets. Sold by Hardysoft, a wallet costs
$7.50 each, or you can buy three for $20. Each wallet holds 9 cards firmly.
To order, write to:
Charlie Hardy
Hardysoft
24 Lawnside Drive
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Telephone: (609) 883-1083
E-mail: hardysoft@genie.com or 72604.2201@compuserve.com
For Lynx owners who don't care about brand names, a Gameboy plastic
cartridge case holds two Lynx cards easily. The cases can be bought from
Nintendo at 800-255-3700, part number 21648.
==============================================================================
Q. What does "ComLynx" mean, exactly?
A. Some Lynx games allow multiple players to play together simultaneously.
This works when each player has a Lynx game machine, and all of the
machines are connected to each other via cables. The connection is the
ComLynx port, and the cables are ComLynx cables. Games that support this
mutiplayer simultaneous play are usually identified by the phrase "1 to N
players Lynx up" on the box, the instruction manual, and/or the game card.
==============================================================================
Q. Do all players "Lynxed up" via the ComLynx need a copy of the game being
played?
A. Yes. All players need a copy of the game card.
==============================================================================
Q. What's the ComLynx port like?
A. There is limit of 18 players via ComLynx. In practice it may be possible
to connect more units together, but to operate within specifications, the
drivers in the Lynx cannot drive over more than 17 units with pull-ups on
the serial ports.
ComLynx runs from 300.5 to 62.5K baud. It works on a "listen and send"
structure. Data transmission between Lynxes is done in the background,
freeing up the CPU to run the game instead of communicating. It's called
"RedEye" in-house at Atari, named after an early idea of having Lynxes
communicate with infra-red transmissions.
It uses a three-wire cable (+5V/Ground/Data) and allows for bi-directional
serial communications. The system frames messages in terms of 11-bit words,
each consisting of a start bit, eight data bits, a parity bit, and a stop
bit. The ComLynx port is used solely for communications; it can't be used
to control other aspects of the Lynx, though in theory it can be used to
send signals to external devices.
==============================================================================
Q. Sometimes a multiplayer ComLynx game will freeze up. Why?
A. A ComLynxed game will freeze if communication between the Lynxes is
interrupted. If communications can be restored, the game will continue.
The most common cause of this problem is a fray in one of the ComLynx
cables, or a loose seating in one of the ComLynx jacks. Communication is
broken, and the game "freezes". Jiggling the cable or reseating the jacks
may fix the solution temporarily, but the best cure is a new cable.
==============================================================================
Q. I hear there's a ComLynx port on the Atari Jaguar. How does that work?
Can I connect my Lynx to it? Will there be a Lynx adaptor for the Jaguar?
A. The ComLynx port allows communication between Jaguar units and Lynx units.
In theory, it would be possible to daisy-chain multiple units of either
machine type for multiplayer games. At the current time, however, no such
plans are in the works. Instead, it is seen as allowing Lynxes to be used
as peripherals: software can be developed to allow Lynxes to be part of a
Jaguar game as controllers.
An adaptor to allow the Jaguar to play Lynx games is not currently planned.
==============================================================================
Q. My Lynx screen is badly scratched! How can I fix it, what can I do?
A. Get some "plastic scratch remover" or "plexiglass scratch remover". You
can find it in hardware stores, or look in your Yellow Pages under
"Plastics."
==============================================================================
Q. Agh! My Lynx is broken! How can I fix it?
A. Send your Lynx to: Lynx Repair Service
Atari Computer Corporation
390 Caribbean Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94088
Include a letter of explaination indicating the problem you have.
Depending on available supplies, Atari will repair or replace your Lynx.
If your Lynx is still under warranty, include a copy of the receipt or
credit-card bill and it will be performed for free. Otherwise, you will
be billed (last known price is $50, but may vary). Estimated time of
replacement/repair is three to four weeks.
==============================================================================
Q. How do I disassemble my Lynx II (assuming I want to)?
A. The original Lynxes were easy to take apart, for whatever reason you
needed. The new Lynx IIs are more puzzling, but not impossible. The
following set of (edited) instructions are provided by Ken Small
(kens@umich.edu):
"It's not hard, but there are a lot of fragile pieces and the electronics
are sensitive to all the things that electronics are usually sensitive to,
like static. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
"First, remove the rubber pads from the bottom of the Lynx. They're glued
on, but they peel off pretty easily. Beneath them are screw holes --
remove them. Note that it's *very* easy to tell if your lynx has been
opened, since you leave holes in the glue stuff. Take off the back of the
case.
"Remove the screw located inside the battery area. Be careful when
replacing this; it can strip easily. Mine is stripped, but the rest of the
case holds the battery bay in place. Remove the battery bay piece.
"You will see a circuit board with a couple of wires and circuit ribbons
attached to it. Carefully unplug all of these. The ribbon in particular
seems flimsy. Do not puncture or otherwise damage it. Remove the circuit
board.
"Beneath the circuit board is an assembly screwed to the inside of the
case, which contains the screen, button contacts and buttons. A warning
when unscrewing this-- the are LOTS of small pieces in here, and they're
particular about how they go back in. In particular, be careful about the
A/B buttons, which are slightly different sizes, and the rubber mat around
the LCD screen, which has nothing to hold it in place. (NOTE: Also, there
are contacts on the circuit board hooked up to the high-voltage supply for
the backlight. They won't do any damage, but can give a mild shock.)
"The last thing is the joypad contact itself. This is a small rubber mat
held in place by a snap-on piece of plastic. You can carefully remove the
plastic to get under the apron, where the contacts can be cleaned. Clean
in-between the contacts, being careful not to abrase the contacts
themselves. They look like half-circles with a small (half-millimeter or
less) space between. Grunge between them can register an intermittent
false contact, which looks to the player like the joypad is being quickly,
repeatedly pressed in one direction."
==============================================================================
Q. How can I reach Atari Corp.?
A. Customer Service: (800) GO-ATARI
9:00am to 5:00pm PST, Monday-Friday
Customer Service can also be reached on GEnie as "Atari," or on the
Internet as "atari@genie.geis.com". PLEASE NOTE that this is for Customer
Service ONLY; do not send electronic mail to that address if it does not
pertain to service problems.
Mailing Address: Atari Corp.
1196 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1302
Also, Atari Corp. sells Lynx units, games, and accessories by mail. Their
number is (800) GO-ATARI.
==============================================================================
Q. What are other sources for Lynx information?
A. Publications:
- A.P.E. Newsletter Dedicated Lynx newsletter ("A.P.E."
2104 N. Kostner stands for "Atari Power
Chicago, IL 60639 Entertainment"). Write to Clinton
GEnie: C.SMITH89 Smith. Published five times per
year, cost is $6.00/year.
- GamePro General video-gaming magazine with
951 Mariner's Island Blvd. some Lynx coverage.
San Mateo, CA 91202
- Portable Atari Gaming System PAGS is a quarterly newsletter with
P.O. Box 37692 reviews, editorials, news & info,
Raleigh, NC 27627-7692 and gaming tips. One year costs
GEnie: E.SCHOFIELD $12.00.
- Video Games General video-gaming and computer-
9171 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300 gaming magazine. Lynx news often in
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 news articles and reviews.
- Wild Cat A one-man, home-made Atari video gaming
Phil Patton "fanzine." Subscriptions are $12/year
131 Dake Ave. for eight issues, at 12 pages each issue.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Covers all Atari consoles and computers.
Internet/USENET newsgroups and services:
- Atari Explorer Online Magazine
A bi-weekly electronic magazine covering news on Atari computers and
video game systems. Subscriptions are available through the Internet;
send electronic mail to stzmagazine-request@virginia.edu. Also see
the section on Internet FTP sites.
- rec.games.video.atari
USENET newsgroup. Contains news of all Atari video-game systems.
- World-Wide Web Pages
General-purpose Atari/Lynx Web pages:
http://www.mcs.usu.edu/~kurto/lynx/
http://math.ohio-state.edu:80/~harmon/lynx/
http://www.infinet.com/~rbatina
http://www.mcc.ac.uk/~dlms/atari.html
http://rzserv2.fh-lueneburg.de:8080/Lynx/
http://www.ereal.com/eds/
Toad Computers has a web page which allows you to order Lynx games from
them directly:
http://www.charm.net/~toad
Internet FTP sites:
- atari.archive.umich.edu or terminator.cc.umich.edu (141.211.164.8):
/pub/atari/portadd Has back-issues of Portable Addiction, a
newsletter about the Atari Lynx, Sega Game
Gear, and Atari Portfolio. Subscribe by
sending a note to tjerk@nikhef.nl.
/pub/atari/Lynx contains assorted Lynx-related files
- ftp.netcom.com
/pub/rj/rjung Contains the latest version of this FAQ file, and
the Lynx Hyperstack (see "Apple Hypercard Stack,"
below).
/pub/vi/vidgames/faqs
Frequently-asked question files for a variety of
home games and consoles, arcade titles, and other
video-gaming information. Includes the latest
version of this FAQ file.
- rahul.net
/pub/wilsont/AEO Includes the latest copies of Atari Explorer
Online Magazine.
Internet TELNET site:
- Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu or 129.22.8.51 or nextsun.INS.CWRU.edu
Access via modem at (216) 368-3888.
You can log on as visitor to explore the system and apply for a
Free-Net account online. At the opening menu, enter "2" to log in as a
visitor. At the next menu, enter "2" again to explore the system. You
will then read an opening disclaimer and a login bulletin, then be sent
to the main menu. Once inside, type "go lynx". Follow the menus to
read discussions, reviews, news, and information. In order to post
messages and send e-mail, you need a Free-Net account. Apply for a
Free-Net account by entering "1" at the second menu instead of "2".
Apple HyperCard Stack:
The Lynx HyperStack is a stack for the HyperCard program for the Apple
Macintosh computer. This stack contains the Atari Lynx FAQ, all of the
Lynx game reviews written by Robert Jung, all of the Lynx video-game
tips and tricks compiled in the USENET Lynx Guide, and other assorted
news articles and miscellaneous information. The latest version of the
stack can be retrieved with anonymous FTP, at ftp.netcom.com in the
/pub/rj/rjung subdirectory. Instructions are included in the BinHex-
encoded file.
Microsoft Windows Help File:
Jon Reinberg has compiled the Lynx cheats file and the Lynx FAQ into a
Microsoft Windows .HLP (Help) file. This allows Windows users to use
active hypertext browsing to find game cheats for specific games. The
Lynx Help File can be retrieved with anonymous FTP, at
atari.archive.umich.edu, in the file atari\lynx\cheathlp.zip.
Instructions are included.
BBS:
- CATScan
(209) 239-1552, baud rate/line information unknown
The BBS is completely dedicated to Atari products and Atari video game
consoles.
- MADNIX BBS
(608) 273-2657, 300/1200/2400 bps
It's located in Madison, Wisconsin (USA) and has a Lynx section.
Login as "bbs" and create an account. Once on the BBS enter "go lynx".
MADNIX has game reviews and hints from the net as well as old message
threads from UseNet on LYNX related topics.
- Star-Linx BBS
(602) 464-4817, 300-14,400 bps
It's located in Mesa, Arizona (USA), has a Lynx Club, and complete
access to the USENET rec.games.video.* hierarchy. There is also a data
store containing a wide variety of Lynx-related reviews, articles,
pictures, and other information.
- Video Game Information Service.
(201) 509-7324, 300/1200/2400/9600/14400 bps. Multiple lines
Located in West Orange, New Jersy (USA). The BBS is completely
dedicated to video gaming, and maintains files of cheats and reviews
for all game systems. Carries video-game-related conferences from
other computer networks, including Fidonet, Worldnet, and Globalnet.
Online services:
- America On-Line
The PC Games/Video Games discussion group has areas devoted to the
Atari Lynx and the Atari Jaguar consoles. Use the keyword PC GAMES,
then go to the Video Games discussion board. From there, select Atari
Discussion, then the console of your choice.
- GEnie
Atari ST Roundtable BBS, Category 36
- CompuServe
The Atari Gaming Forum features a message section and library
devoted to the Lynx where players, industry representatives,
and magazine writers and editors exchange information and
commentary. Many Atari personnel, including developer and
technical support, customer service, numerous vice presidents
and Sam Tramiel himself frequent the forum on a regular basis.
Type GO LYNX to access the Atari Gaming Forum.
International clubs:
- Netherlands: International Lynx Club
Leon Stolk
Vanenburg 2
7339 DN Ugchelen
The Netherlands
- Austria: Internationaler Lynx Club
Christian Lenikus
Obertraun 27
4831 Obertraun
Austria
- Switzerland: Swiss-Lynx-Info-Club
Eugene Rodel
Sangeliweg 45
4900 Langenthal
Switzerland
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Q. What's the Lynx developer's kit like?
A. Hardware:
- Commodore Amiga computer: 3M RAM and hard disk.
- "Howard" board: A parallel-interface module that has the electronics
of the Lynx, also with debugging tools. A large PC board inside of
a metal case with power supply, and connections on the back for
cable to connect to the Amiga, and to the "Howdy" unit ($5,000).
- "Howdy" unit: A small PC board in a plastic case with buttons and a
Lynx display, and a cable that connects to the "Howard" board.
- "Pinky/Mandy": A discounted "Howard" board setup that allows programs to
be loaded and executed. Minimal debugging support ($500).
Software:
- Handy-Bug: A powerful symbolic debugger, also contains a disassembler.
- Handicraft: Graphics translator that takes IFF files and turns them
into coded Lynx sprite definitions.
- HSFX: Sound editor
- "HandyROM": Creates ROM card images from code and data files.
- Macro libraries
- Example programs
- Notebook of system documentation (approximately 270 double-sided pages,
weighs over three pounds).
A full Lynx Developer's Kit currently costs around $5,000. As of December
12, 1995, Atari has stopped selling Lynx developers' kits to prospective
developers.
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